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Comment by samename | Hacker News Reader

I have a Southwest flight on Friday I am now very nervous about. For the first time ever I bought a fully refundable flight as a backup option through American Airlines. Looks like Southwest might allow free cancellations too so I might ditch that flight entirely to avoid undue travel headaches. Either way, I don’t ever remember a worst traveling season than this.

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The right credit card, if you have one or can get one, usually includes "insurance" for travel delays, lost luggage, cancellations etc. I always forget about the benefits other than "points" but there are some great ones.

Recently, I was glad I used the right card to book an airbnb which we had to cancel day of check-in. Full refund on a non-refundable airbnb.

What CC is that?

Chase sapphire cards and anything competing with that. FWIW getting reimbursed through my capital one ventureX card took over six months and was a major pain. Claims were handled by eclaimsline which capital one told me was part of Visa not themselves, it’s the only time I’ve used it so I don’t know if that’s common for other cards like Chase. Maybe they handle it it house and do a better job.

Southwest has always allowed free cancellations, up to 10 minutes before boarding— that was one of its main selling points. You (normally) get the money as flight credit, however.

An expiring flight credit, which is perhaps less desirable than the cash you paid.

A few months ago, they monkeyed with our departure time, and we correctly concluded that it would end up missing the connecting flight. The booking agent couldn't give us anything but time-bomb vouchers, but I got cash by emailing customer support. I used the federal wording for "elected not to travel" and "substantially different itinerary," which may have helped me not have any issues.

Not anymore! https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2022/07/2...

Yup! Noticed that. Although I wish they had spent more time and resources on improving the staff scheduling system rather than adding a new fare class ("Wanna get away plus") and trying to milk the boarding system for extra cash.

> I don’t ever remember a worst traveling season than this

Even during COVID?

Pre COVID and especially during COVID wasn't bad, as long as you didn't mind wearing a mask.

Post COVID you have everyone and their mom trying to make up for 2 years of missed vacations and being stuck at home. And they're angry as hell - the post COVID population seems wreckless and short fused, for reasons I don't exactly know.

Probably not, as passenger volumes were a fraction of normal.

Yeah if you could find a flight you’d probably be damn near the only person on it.

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